Employment of Asylum Seekers Cyprus : Department of Labour

Name of the Organization : Department of Labour
Type of Facility : Employment of Asylum Seekers
Country : Cyprus

Website : http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/dl/dl.nsf/dmlemploymentasylum_en/dmlemploymentasylum_en?OpenDocument

MLSI Employment of Asylum Seekers

1. Employment Rights Of Refugees:
Section 21B of the Cyprus Refugee Law provides that the person who is recognized as a refugee receives equal treatment as the citizens of the Republic as regards wage- earning employment. In other words, refugees have the same rights as Cypriot citizens to employment, hence there are no restrictions to any particular sector and there is no need for the Labor Department to approve and stamp a contract of employment between an employer and a recognized refugee.

Related : Department of Labour Employment of Students from Third Countries Cyprus : www.statusin.org/5720.html

2. Employment of Persons with Subsidiary Protection Status:
A person provided with the status of subsidiary protection, is entitled to engage in employment in accordance with the regulations and terms generally applicable to the profession and to the public administration, regarding the recognition of degrees and the salary immediately following his/her recognition with subsidiary protection status.

For the period of 12 months from the day of the granting of subsidiary protection status, the person entitled with this protection status has the right to be employed in the following sectors:

Economic Activity and Profession:
1. Agriculture – Animal Husbandry – Fishery: Workers at Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery
2. Manufacture: Laborers at bakeries, animal food, recycling, wooden furniture polishers
3. Construction: Ironmongers, pattern makers, construction workers
4. Trade and Repairs: Straighters and painters of cars, gas station workers / workers at car washing machines, freight handlers of wholesale Trade
5. Other activities: Cleaners of buildings, sanitation workers, garbage collectors

After the first year, subsidiary protection holders acquire the same working rights as recognized refugees, which means that they receive equal treatment as the citizens of the Republic as regards wage-earning employment. In other words, they have the same rights as Cypriot citizens to employment, hence they are not restricted to any sector, and there is no need for the Labor Department to approve and stamp a contract of employment between an employer and a subsidiary protection holder, when 12 months passes since he gained this status.

3. Employment of Asylum Seekers:
During the first six months from the date of submission of the asylum application, asylum seekers are not entitled to work.

About Us :
The Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities has been established as from 1.1.2009, according to the Ministers’ Council Decision n. 66.763 dated 6.2.2008, as a new Department of the Ministry and Social Insurance.

The Department operated, at the beginning, with seconded and interchangeable staff since its permanent posts were not filled. The process for the filling of the vacant posts was completed for the posts of Director, Senior Social Inclusion Officer and six posts of Social Inclusion Officer, whereas the process for the posts of Social Inclusion Officer A’ and eight posts of Assistant Social Inclusion Officer is pending.

Contact Us :
Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities,
67, Archbishop Makarios III Avenue,
2220 Latsia,
Nicosia